Ashley Young replaces Manchester United old order

Ashley Young leaves Aston Villa for Manchester United in a £16m deal []

Young, who joined from Aston Villa on a five-year deal, becomes the latest part of Ferguson’s busy rebuilding programme following the capture of Blackburn’s Phil Jones.

And Ferguson is determined not to stop there in the pre-season transfer market as he sets his sights on dismantling Barcelona’s European dynasty.

Ferguson, who will oversee the most thorough transformation of his playing resources for 15 years, is hopeful of introducing at least two new faces to Old Trafford.

David De Gea, Atletico Madrid’s Spain Under-21 goalkeeper, is expected to succeed the retired Edwin van der Sar when the international window opens on July 1.

Ferguson, who has also seen Paul Scholes bow out, has room for a midfielder with Wesley Sneijder, Luka Modric and Samir Nasri among his targets.

To come to a club like this, you are always going to have challenges

Manchester United player Ashley Young

His spending, which is already close to £40m, will be designed to close the gap on a Barcelona side who strengthened their claim as the world’s greatest club side last month by winning the Champions League final against United at Wembley.

Having failed to tempt England winger Young in January, Ferguson returned to sign the 25-year-old yesterday – just like he did with defender Jones – ahead of long-term admirers Liverpool and rivals Manchester City.

Young, who is believed to have doubled his wages, said: “You get a great feeling that one of the greatest managers in the world wants to sign you and one of the greatest clubs in the world want to buy you. As soon as I got the call, I wanted to get things sorted, get the papers signed and get into training.

“They have been a fantastic team for a long time. They produce great players and are always in there fighting for leagues and cups.

“They have that winning mentality and as a player I have always wanted to be the best I can and to have challenges.

“To come to a club like this, you are always going to have challenges.

“I want to win titles and leagues and hopefully I can be part of that this time.”

Ferguson, who turns 70 this year, is determined to slash the age of his squad and the big-money signings of two home-grown talents suggests a shift in policy during a summer of change.

The rebuilding exercise, the biggest since a host of senior stars left to make way for David Beckham and the rest of the golden generation in 1995, casts doubts over the futures of a number of players.

The casualties will include Wes Brown, while Dimitar Berbatov’s future appears increasingly bleak following Young’s arrival.

Bulgarian striker Berbatov is in danger of being relegated further down the pecking order and his omission from Ferguson’s plans against Barcelona could spell the end of his Old Trafford career. But for Young, who can play on the flanks or as a second striker, the future is bright having emerged as one of the most creative forces in the Premier League.

Having flourished under Martin O’Neill after joining from Watford for £9.75m four years ago, the upheaval at Villa Park last season did not stop Young from scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists in a struggling side.

But he broke off contract talks last year and Villa had little choice but to cash in on one of their prized assets, who was free to leave for nothing in 12 months.

Young, who links up with his new team-mates when United return to training next month, added: “There is great competition for places.

“It’s always nice to know that if you are in the team there is someone snapping away at your heels.

“I just want to get myself in the team.

“It will be a challenge but I am up to it.”‘As soon as I got the call I wanted to go’